The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-21
The Sunday School.
LESSON FOR MAY 30, 1887.
BY REV. ROBERT t. POLK.
THE RED SEA.
The DEPARTURE.
( Exodus xiv. 1881. J


The tenth plague occurred as had been pre-
dicted by Moses, and the first born OF the
Egyptians died, from the son of Pnaraoh,
who will sit upon the THRONE, to the son OF the
prisoner in the PRISONS SO that there was
not a house where there was not one dead,
xii. 30. sOl. The whole land of Egypt was
in mourning. The fatality of the pestllence
was so general as to afflict every family IN
which there was first born son. The peo-
pie we're urgent that the Israelites should go
ont of the land, and the king commanded
them to depart at once. They were ready
for their departure, though they were Obliged
to carry their dough, which they we're PROB
ablv nreparine to bake for their journey, be-
fore il was leavened. They asked, however,
gifts of Jewels and clothing from the Egypt
ians. which they were willing to grant, SO
eager were they to have them hasten their
departure, being, as they thought, all exposed
to death by the constrained presence OF the
Israelites who had been refused permission
to 90 ont of the land to worship their COP,
who was now taking vengeance on the OPP
pressors of His people.
From all parts of the district In which they
were settled called Rameses Genesis XVII;
see also Study, April pa, the Israeiites as
sembled at Succoth where they appear to
have tarried to make preparation for an Or
Derby journey to the promised land. sue
Goth has recently been identified by Naville
as Pithom. one of the store cities which the
Pharaoh who first oppressed the lsraelltes
Obliged them to build (11). 1t was situated
near the eastern border of the fertile district
of Goshen, and appears to have been sup
ply station for the army that garrisoned the
eastern border of Egypt, and for the cara
vans conducting the commerce between
Eeypt and Arabia. There we're two routes
from Egypt to Canaan, one direct, by the
shore of the Mediterranean and through the
country of the warlike Philistines; the other
by the way of the Red Sea and through the
wilderness. By this longer but less danger
GUS route, Joseph carried the body of Jacob
to Hebron for burial. By the same round
about way GoD led the lsraelltes, carry
ing with them the embalmed body OF DO
semi to be buried with their fathers in ODE
dience to his dying request. 1t is said that
COP led them by this route, lest the people
repent when they see war, and return to
Egypt" People are often unwilling TO pay
the cost of freedom, and prefer bondage to
peril and want. From Succoth the lsraelltes,
mot as disorderly fugitives, but as an Or
ganized company (host or camp),-divinely
led, journeyed to Ethan, which was IN the
edge of the wilderness, near the line separat-
Ethqn n
stead of going directly into the desert of
Arabia, they turned out and encamped at
Pi- hahiroth-" the place where the reeds
CROWLEY the sea. The ell campment was at
some point near the head of the Gulf of Suez,
which may have extended considerably fur
Their north than at present.
COP led the Israelites in their journey from
the land of their bitter bondage. Moses was
his instrument He by Divine direction or
dered the line of march. The usual signal
for the direction and guidance of armies and
caravans was employed. " In pillar of fire
and cloud JEHOVAH went before them to lead
them the way" The fire and smoke were
the sign of the Divine presence and leader
ship. By the moving column of smoke and
flame the Israelites marched by day and
night, and when it stood still they camped.
This was the messenger (angeD of JEHOVAH
to them, as was the flaming bush at Horeb
to Moses.
The Persians and Greeks were accustomed
to use fire and smoke as military signals.
Alexander gave the signal of departure from
camp by fire on high pole over his tent; if
it were night the army saw the fire; If it
were day, they saw the smoke. That it was
an Egyptian practice seems to be established.
Quoted by DR.. DemoreSt, in S. S. Helper,
August, 1881.
To this sign of the Divine presence and
guidance there was natural analogy in the
caravan fire, which consisted of small iron
vessels or CRATES, with wood fires burning in
them, fastened at the end of long poles. and
carried as guide in front of caravans, and,
according to Curtius, in trackless countries
in front of armies also, and by which the
direction of the road was indicated in the
day time by the smoke, and at night by the
light of the free. F. KeiL, ID. d., Com
mentary on the Pentateuch."